Search Engine Optimization

They compliment each other for best long term results. Think of it like a car. You drive a car (website) and need fuel (SEO) to get where you want to go. We offer both SEO (‘Align’) and web design (‘Design’) because we want the best long term outcome for our clients.

SEO is totally optional i.e. you can own a website without any SEO. Just be aware that no SEO means zero results in the search engines. So you’ll have a pretty website but you’ll miss out on tons of future (free) leads that come via Google search. And trust me, there’s nothing better than consistently having people reach out to you for your services/products. 

Firstly, how your site is built absolutely matters. Keyword research is done BEFORE the website is built…because the keywords are used to build the structure of the site. On-page SEO is done DURING the process of building the website. Most of the actual SEO activities are done AFTER the site is created and gone live.

• This is a once-off service done immediately after launching a new website. (Keyword research before building).
• These are basics needed for Google to know that your website exists and understand what your site is about.
• Without this foundation Google won’t even know your website and brand exists.

A brand new website won’t show on Google at all for the first 1-3 months. Longer or indefinitely if the Foundational SEO has not been done. The first step is called being indexed by Google. This is 100% up to Google. All we can do is be patient during this time.

No. These are the basic steps every new website needs for Google to know that it exists and to understand what the site is about. 

To show higher on Google you need to build the AUTHROITY of the brand in the ‘eyes’ of Google. So you’d need more advanced SEO activities – this takes time.

It takes time and regular SEO activities to get found on the first page of Google. It also depends heavily on what you’re up against – your competition online matters because to get past them you need to be better than them in the eyes of Google.

If you are in the following niches then it will take longer with more investment to win in the search engines: attorney, insurance, debt review, real estate, etc. simply because these types of companies invest over a long period to get great results. 

For less competitive niches it may take anything from 9 months to 2 years depending on many factors.

Nobody can (ethically) guarantee you first page results. Run away from those that make such a promise.

That being said, we have helped many clients show on the first page of Google…and stay there! See SEO case study below.

For best results you’ll need to be willing to do your part too… Eg: asking your clients to post reviews for your services/products on your Google Business Profile.

We recommend Google Ads to all our clients who want to diplay their brand in front of people on Google quicker (while waiting for the SEO to show results). 

Citations are strategic listings of your business details on other websites. Think Yellow Pages. The key is accuracy of your business details and volume – many listings i.e. adding your business details to a dozen directories won’t be enough. The purpose of Citations is to increase the authority of your website/brand online which may lead to higher search results. 

Shoot me (Zaid) your question and I’ll get back to you with an answer: info@aligndesigns.co.za